911 Where is the address of your emergency?

I'm honored that I've been offered a job as a 911 Dispatcher for Madison County.  I believe that I've been guided here and that Heavenly Father has pulled some strings for someone like me to be in this current situation.  

Ever since we decided to buy a house in Ennis, Jaret and I knew that I would need to take a part time job to help make our ends meet.  I started as a substitute teacher in January and really enjoyed being around the energy of the students at school.  I worked so many days at the school that I was required to join the teachers retirement system and it sent my head into a tail spin.  Putting two kids in daycare, paying taxes, and contributing to this fund only left me with about $20 a day to go toward bills.  At this rate I would have to work full time to contribute my portion toward the bills.  When we bought our house I committed to working two days a week so that I could stay home with my kids the majority of the time.  This would give the girls some social exposure at daycare and me a chance to get out of the house and have a nice balance.  

We moved into our house in March and I've been extremely stressed about bills since.  Aside from the fact that I have a hard time saying no when asked to work extra days, we needed the income.  We've had some pluming problems where our water has been shutting itself off on us and after having the plummer come out multiple times the problem was finally solved and we are waiting for the bill.  I'm scared to get it.  

So, school ended in May and I have been enjoying my summer job at Sugar High (SH).  Initially I didn't think I would have enough shifts at SH so I clamored for every one I could get.  Once again I found myself working almost everyday.  It's been hard on my family, and hard on me.  It has gotten to where my kids don't want to go to daycare and I feel guilty for taking them.  I can't get my work done at home and I've been cranky because I can't find that needed balance.  You all know where this spiral leads, right?  Yup, Jaret and I have had our worst fight to date this last week.  

I knew that I couldn't go on this way and that I needed to find something that paid well and was more stable.  I had a few jobs in mind and had been talking to employers.  I had been offered a job as a waitress at a super nice restaurant but was sad to find out that it too was seasonal.  I was also considering helping a friend out with her business but wasn't getting a lot of information from her due to her busy schedule.  About three or four weeks ago my husband text me, "Dispatcher Job?  What do you think?  12-15 per hour.  It would be consistent working long term."  I replied, "I like it!  I've always wanted to be a dispatcher!"  Jaret, "I like it to".

Although initially I was excited, I started looking into it more and realized the commitment and intensity I would be dealing with.  Did I really want to get myself into this?  I flip-flopped back and forth for days.  I was going to apply but sort of kept putting it off.  I kind of wanted to work for my friend, but she wasn't getting back to me.  I wasn't going to apply but I had my hubby and other friends encouraging me to do it.  After mowing it over in my mind the County Commissioner had to come into Sugar High and break the camels back.  I questioned him on what he knew about the job and I finally decided to go for it.  That night, I threw my resume together and got it over to the sheriffs office.  Guess who was there when I dropped my application off?  The county commissioner.   Coincidence?

the following Monday I was asked to interview the next day but chose rather to go to my Grandmother Scott's funeral.  They were gracious enough to allow me to reschedule for last Friday.    I watched Rescue 911, listened to dispatch calls, researched, called a dispatcher friend in Bozeman to pick her brain, and practiced interview questions.  I did everything I could to prepare for the interview.  

The day came and I showed up a half hour early.  Steve DiGiovanna is the boss and he asked me to come back 25 minutes later to be fare to the other candidates.  I arrived at 12:55 and found myself waiting with sweaty palms in their lobby. I tried to sit up straight and be attentive until I was called back for my interview.  I was asked 10 questions in turn by Steve DiGiovanna, Sherriff David Schenk, and Linda the dispatcher.  Even now I can't believe that I didn't blow the interview. Once when I was in High School, I interview for a position at Walmart and found myself squirming around in my seat telling them, "I dunno".  Now I was here answering most of the questions with ease.  I had practiced and thought about the majority of them and I know I was helped by that higher power with the others.  

Although I felt like things went well, my interview was not error free.  There was a question where they asked me to prioritize four calls in the order of importance.  I said: 1. I would dispatch and ambulance for the accident, 2. Send officers for a gang fight, 3. Have an officer check out the man with the shot gun, 4.....I couldn't remember 4.  "Is that bad?" I asked.  Linda asked if she should repeat for for me and I admitted I needed her to.  4. Dispatch an officer to deal with the irate neighbor complaining about a dog barking.  

After my formal interview I was given the opportunity to sit down and chat with the dispatcher on duty.  I asked questions and chat for a while until I was called back into Steve's office.  Steve, "I just want to let you know that you didn't do very well on the interview.  You were fourth in the applicants interviewed....but we're going to lower our standards for you."  I was so confused at first.  I thought I had done alright in the interview.  It wasn't until Linda blew Steve's cover that I realized that he was actually joking.  He went on to tell me that they liked me and I had the job if I passed the background check.  He asked if there was anything they would find that would concern them about my background.  It was an akward conversation because I think he expected me to have a confessional ready.  When I couldn't think of anything he kept asking things about marijuana and drugs that I may have tried.  "Nope, I've never tried anything".  It was so awkward that I confessed that I yelled at an officer once.  When he found that I was never sited for anything he threw his hands up.  

There was one last question I got a kick out of. "I don't know how to say this.  I don't want to offend you and maybe Linda can help me here. It's not that you're a nun or anything but how are you around swearing and vulgarity?  It's not that an officer would be swearing AT you.  That wouldn't be appropriate.  That would never happen.  But how are you when people are joking and swearing around in the office?"   At first I thought he was asking about how I would do with people swearing at me over the phone.  I thought that was a natural part of the job.  When I finally realized that he was talking about the day-to-day cussing that happened in the office I laughed.  I explained that I had played basketball and was used to being around cussing.  I just chose not to cuss myself.  A nun?  Lol.  I guess I must have come off as pretty innocent.  I guess I am still pretty innocent in some ways but I feel like I'm way past that teen innocence that I used to feel pretty naive and stupid about. 

Anyway, I spent the whole weekend working and collecting info for my background packet and turned it in Sunday night.  Monday afternoon I got a call at work, "Can you start for us on Monday at 9? How did you get all those people to say those nice things about you anyway?"  So, I have the job.  I'm pretty intimidated by the initial work load but from what I've seen I think it will be a good fit for me and my family.   From talking to some of the current dispatchers it sound like Steve is a great boss, very knowledgeable and tries to work with everyone's schedule the best he can.  

I was given the choice to work full time (30-50 hrs/wk) or as a floater (20+ hrs/wk).  We chose to go with the part time position.  I am grateful for the opportunity and I'm excited to get started next Monday.  

I'm also grateful to have some time off this week.  I worked my last days at Sugar High on Monday and Tuesday and have the rest of the week off to spend with Louis and Jolene over the holidays.  The break is much needed.  I spent the morning working in the garden and took a nap for the first time in a very long time.  It was so hard to get up and I still have to clean the house to prep for our friends.  Whew.  

I'm grateful for our blessings and this opportunity to spend more time with my family.  I pray that I can do well and that it will prove to be a blessing for everyone.